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"The problem has been known about for a long time. It is an increasing anxiety and it isn't acceptable," he told the Independent.

"There are practical complications with the changeover. But that doesn't mean there can't be a way of supervising and managing it safely."

The suggestions include "more flexibly and intelligently designed" rotas so more experienced doctors are on call for the first few weeks and trainees should be given "high-quality clinical induction" with an emphasis on patient safety.

The AMRC is also exploring staggering the changeover which affects 50,000 doctors in training who move to new posts twice a year in August and February.

Delaying the changeover for more experienced doctors by two to four weeks would "greatly increase stability", it says.

Mark Porter, chair of the British Medical Association's consultants committee, backed the proposals for more consultant cover in August but said NHS trusts must accommodate those who wanted to take holidays at that time.

He said there was "disturbing evidence" that patients got a worse service during the junior doctor changeover in August but denied deaths were higher.

"We no longer get patients deteriorating because they are now on observation charts with mandatory checks which trigger. automatic calls to the critical care outreach team," he said